Preview — Eight Men
by Richard Wright

Eight Men: Short Stories

"Wright's unrelenting bleak landscape was not merely that of the Deep South, or of Chicago, but that of the world, of the human heart," said James Baldwin, and here, in these powerful stories, Richard Wright takes readers into this landscape one again. "Eight Men" presents eight stories of black men living at violent odds with the white world around them. As they do in his"Wright's unrelenting bleak landscape was not merely that of the Deep South, or of Chicago, but that of the world, of the human heart," said James Baldwin, and here, in these powerful stories, Richard Wright takes readers into this landscape one again. "Eight Men" presents eight stories of black men living at violent odds with the white world around them. As they do in his classic novels, the themes here reflect Wright's views on racism and his fascination with what he called "the struggle of the individual in America."...more

Community Reviews

There were certain aspects of this collection of short stories that disappointed me, when I view them in light of his other work. But despite its shortcomings, it was still, like all other Wright that I’ve read, thrilling, stimulating, challenging, and in the end, enlightening. The last of the eight stories, each about a black man at odds with the white world in which they try to operate, is an autobiographical piece, or at least autobiographically oriented. He tells of his experience as a SouthThere were certain aspects of this collection of short stories that disappointed me, when I view them in light of his other work. But despite its shortcomings, it was still, like all other Wright that I’ve read, thrilling, stimulating, challenging, and in the end, enlightening. The last of the eight stories, each about a black man at odds with the white world in which they try to operate, is an autobiographical piece, or at least autobiographically oriented. He tells of his experience as a Southern black man trying to make his way in urban Chicago. He gripped me, holding on tight, until I was forced to look deeper than ever before at the realness of the black/white psychological schism in the United States. As in his other work, Wright writes powerfully and without compromise. He is hardly balanced, portraying almost every white person harshly. This black-focused point of view though, is his literary and illustrative tool. His autobiographical piece and much of his full-length fiction, show that Wright does not actually take part in the stereotyping that is part of the very system which he criticizes. Without taking sides, how is Wright the activist to allow himself the author the maximum opportunity of portraying the aforementioned racial divide intimately enough to grip a white-bred American such as myself?

In reference to his experience as an orderly in a medical research institute, he writes:

“The hospital kept us four Negroes as though we were close kin to the animals we tended, huddled together down in the underworld corridors of the hospital, separated by a vast psychological distance from the significant processes of the rest of the hospital—just as America had kept us locked in the dark underworld of American life for three hundred years—and we had made or own code of ethics, values, loyalty.”

More than his fiction, this collection has several comedic nuances which I thoroughly enjoyed, and never expected from the author....more

First I was appalled by the inevitable-seeming destruction of the protagonists in the end of each short story. Eventually I learned to like the eight cynical and violent stories told through the eyes of a black man trying to survive in the segregated world of white men. I did find the stories a little black and white (in more ways than one) but also eye opening and though provoking. Worth the read definitely.

Three more hours left in 2014! What's there to do, what's there to do, but write another book review?

Often derided, and in many ways I get why: this is far and away the weakest Wright book I've read so far. That remarkable progression from horror to resistance in the face of racism found in Uncle Tom's Children is missing, and in some ways, it feels like Wright's spinning on his wheels: in terms of using a flood as the jumping-off point for his story, "Long Black Song" beats "The Man Who Saw theThree more hours left in 2014! What's there to do, what's there to do, but write another book review?

Often derided, and in many ways I get why: this is far and away the weakest Wright book I've read so far. That remarkable progression from horror to resistance in the face of racism found in Uncle Tom's Children is missing, and in some ways, it feels like Wright's spinning on his wheels: in terms of using a flood as the jumping-off point for his story, "Long Black Song" beats "The Man Who Saw the Flood" senseless, and "Man, God Ain't Like That" repeats the dialog-only trick (twelve years before Gaddis! Complete with narrative entropy!) in the great "Man of All Work," which is in turn a twist on Native Son but removed enough from its obvious source to keep me reading. As for the others? Well, "Big Black Good Man" is funny, which is weird for Wright, I don't even remember "The Man Who Went to Chicago," the first half of "The Man Who Lived Underground" is dull as hell but then it gets cooking, "The Man Who Killed a Shadow" feels like a draft or outline or just something that needs a little more sculpting, and "The Man Who Was Almost a Man" is almost great, but doesn't quite get there. It's also probably the best story here. Draw your own conclusions.

This is a Classic first published in 1940 about eight Africa American men. There are eight short stories that focus on Black men at violent odds with a white world. The author writes his point of view on racism in our society about Black men in different unusual situations and the stories involve their struggles in life.

Each story was selected on Black men involved cruelly with their surroundings and beaten down by society. Each person is one way oReview: Eight Men by Richard Wright. 07/22/2017

This is a Classic first published in 1940 about eight Africa American men. There are eight short stories that focus on Black men at violent odds with a white world. The author writes his point of view on racism in our society about Black men in different unusual situations and the stories involve their struggles in life.

Each story was selected on Black men involved cruelly with their surroundings and beaten down by society. Each person is one way or another misunderstood and misinterpreted by the society past and present. The insight is interpreted beautifully with confident, well-proper and honorable written even with occasionally emotional distressed and sorrow.

Eight Men is a collection of fairly sad stories that detail the overbearing conditions of Black men in the 1930’s. They were all great stories but four of them are impressive and will be memorable. The book was interesting and educational and is listed on school reading and discussion among the students. ...more

Such great short stories. It's so interesting these stories were written 40 some years ago because these stories of black men are still relevant today. I would love to teach some of these stories to my young, black, male students.

The foreword to this edition, by Paul Gilroy, sucked really bad--even though Gilroy's intention was to defend these short stories from the critical attacks they have suffered over the years, he began by describing all these attacks in detail...ostensibly in order to deconstruct them...but the ultimate effect was to lower my expectations. Partly as a result, I found the first 7 stories to be pretty ridiculous eye-rollers, where I can imagine I would have taken them more seriously had I skipped GiThe foreword to this edition, by Paul Gilroy, sucked really bad--even though Gilroy's intention was to defend these short stories from the critical attacks they have suffered over the years, he began by describing all these attacks in detail...ostensibly in order to deconstruct them...but the ultimate effect was to lower my expectations. Partly as a result, I found the first 7 stories to be pretty ridiculous eye-rollers, where I can imagine I would have taken them more seriously had I skipped Gilroy's introduction.

Good thing Richard Wright is a badass. In the last story, 'The Man Who Went to Chicago,' he redeemed the entire collection with incredibly prescient--and personal--observations on the future character and consequences of race relations in the U.S. I couldn't believe this had been written in 1940. This was the first time since reading 'The Power of the Powerless' on the Chicago El in 2002 that I experienced actual physical elation from a book. Sometimes timing is everything. There were a couple passages in there that spoke directly to the uncertainty and frustration (as well as optimism, I can also admit) I have been feeling in my current flirtations with radical activism. I'm really glad I read this, and at this particular moment....more

I sort of read it. It's a collection of eight short stories about African-American men. I read the first story (good), started the second story (boring), and the last story (really good). I didn't feel compelled to read any more, so I bailed. The last story - "The Man Who Went to Chicago" - is worth reading. Good insight on how Black men were treated, and treated each other, in the early to mid 20th Century and their relationship with different groups of White people. Otherwise, I don't really rI sort of read it. It's a collection of eight short stories about African-American men. I read the first story (good), started the second story (boring), and the last story (really good). I didn't feel compelled to read any more, so I bailed. The last story - "The Man Who Went to Chicago" - is worth reading. Good insight on how Black men were treated, and treated each other, in the early to mid 20th Century and their relationship with different groups of White people. Otherwise, I don't really recommend it. The ...more

(FROM JACKET)Here, in these powerful stories, Richard Wright takes readers into this landscape once again.

Each of the eight stories in "Eight Men" focuses on a black man at violent odds with a white world, reflecting Wright's views about racism in our society and his fascination with what he called "the struggle of the individual in America." These poignant, gripping stories will captivate all those who loved "Black Boy" and "Native Son"

An incisive look via fictional (though one is autobiographical) vignettes of black life. Very often, it is painful to read stories such as these to imagine that my ancestors were complicit in this manner of caste system, but it also serves as a reminder that even today persons of color find themselves as lesser citizens due to this historical treatment. Excellent writing with weight and depth from Wright.

One forgets between readings how subtle a writer Wright was. He takes subjects about which we usually preach obvious sermons and makes stories with nuanced characters who are responsible for their own lives, even though the forces of racism, poverty, and Freudian drives batter them like strong winds.

One of the best short story collections I've read. Wright was such a profound and clearly ahead of his time writer. Very introspective and unrelenting in his quest to bury the truth down the reader's throat.

this book is more like a study on black male consciousness asking what it means to be black and man, father, son, human. Each story weaves various themes in and out overlapping each other with a short memoir piece that ties everything together. worth reading.

I don't understand why this collection isn't respected more than it is. Some of the stories might not be as good as some of the others, but some are downright classics. These are masterful stories by a mature, memorable talent. Excellent reading.

I thought this was weak. A couple of the stories kind of work, and Wright in general has a particular sort of righteous conviction that is infectious and deeply interesting. I just don't think he was a particularly good writer.

Richard Nathaniel Wright was an African-American author of powerful, sometimes controversial novels, short stories and non-fiction. Much of his literature concerned racial themes. His work helped redefine discussions of race relations in America in the mid-20th century.